UCAT Universities: Where to Apply & How Your Score Matters

Are you preparing for the UCAT (University Clinical Aptitude Test)? Over 40 universities across the UK, Australia, and New Zealand require the UCAT as part of their medical school admissions process. Understanding how each UCAT university evaluates your score is crucial to strategically selecting where to apply—maximising your chances of securing a place in medical school.

How Do UCAT Universities Use Your Score?

Each UCAT university has a unique admissions process. Some set a UCAT cut-off score, meaning only candidates above this threshold are considered. Others weigh the UCAT score alongside academic achievements, personal statements, or interview performance.

To make informed decisions, you should always check directly with the admissions teams of your chosen universities. However, we’ve done the extensive research for you, providing a comprehensive guide to UCAT universities and their admissions criteria.

UCAT Universities in the UK

There are currently 36 medical schools in the UK that require the UCAT. Previously, some universities used the BMAT (BioMedical Admissions Test), but this has been discontinued from 2024 onwards. Many of these institutions have now switched to the UCAT as their standard admissions test.

Full List of UK UCAT Universities & Their Selection Criteria

Below is a detailed breakdown of how UK medical schools assess UCAT scores, including cut-off scores, interview criteria, and additional selection factors.

✅ Aberdeen University – Shortlists candidates based on UCAT score + academic achievements. The UCAT cut-off for 2024 entry was 2,440.

✅ Anglia Ruskin University – Ranks candidates by UCAT score. The cut-off for 2023 entry was 2,640.

✅ Aston University – Uses a point-based system: UCAT (12 points) + Academic Performance (24 points) = 36 points total.

✅ Bangor University – No minimum threshold, but UCAT scores are used in the selection process.

✅ Birmingham University – 40% of the application score is based on UCAT. No minimum cut-off, but lowest UCAT interview score for 2023 was 2,670.

✅ Brighton & Sussex Medical School – Requires UCAT from 2025 onwards and may use it as a final deciding factor post-interview.

✅ Bristol University – After meeting academic entry requirements, candidates are ranked 100% by UCAT score. The 2024 interview threshold was 2,940.

✅ Brunel University – Ranks candidates by UCAT score & personal statement review. Highest-ranked applicants get interview invites.

✅ Cambridge University – Now requires UCAT after discontinuing BMAT. Expected to have highly competitive entry requirements.

✅ Cardiff University – Uses UCAT as a tiebreaker when oversubscribed with high-achieving academic applicants.

✅ Dundee University – UCAT used alongside academic ability. Lowest UCAT score for 2023 interviews was 1,940, with an average of 2,691.

✅ Edge Hill University – Shortlists candidates based on UCAT ranking. Average UCAT score for 2023 interview invites was 2,748.

✅ Edinburgh University – UCAT cut-off for 2024 entry was 2,470. Applicants with SJT Band 4 are automatically rejected.

✅ Exeter University – 25% UCAT weighting, 75% academic performance for shortlisting.

✅ Glasgow University – Allocates interviews based on UCAT ranking. Lowest interview score for 2024 entry was 2,450.

✅ Hull York Medical School – Scores UCAT (40 points) + GCSEs (30 points) + SJT Banding (15 points). SJT Bands 1-3 required.

✅ Imperial College London – UCAT is now required for Medicine admissions.

✅ Keele University – Minimum UCAT cut-off: 2,280. Applicants must score above SJT Band 4 to be considered.

✅ Kent and Medway Medical School – UCAT cut-off for 2024 was 2,500. SJT Band 3 or better required.

✅ King’s College London – UCAT score is averaged across subtests. 2023 entry cut-off was 2,520.

✅ Lancaster University – UCAT required from 2025 onwards.

✅ Leeds University – Switched from BMAT to UCAT from 2024 entry.

✅ Leicester University – 50% UCAT weighting, 50% academic ability. UCAT cut-off for 2023 was 2,250.

✅ Liverpool University – Ranked by UCAT score. Competitive UCAT score for 2023 was 2,660.

✅ Manchester University – Uses a threshold system (2,750 for 2023). SJT Band 1 or 2 required for interview.

✅ Newcastle University – Ranks applicants by UCAT. 2023 threshold: 2,820.

✅ Norwich Medical School (UEA) – Ranks applicants by UCAT for interview selection. Minimum UCAT score for 2024 entry was 2,190.

✅ Nottingham University – Scores UCAT with extra points for Verbal Reasoning. SJT is weighted equally to cognitive UCAT sections.

✅ Oxford University – Now requires UCAT after BMAT discontinuation.

✅ Plymouth University – Considers UCAT alongside GCSEs and A-Levels. UCAT cut-off for 2024 was 2,210.

✅ Queen Mary University of London (Barts) – 50% UCAT weighting, 50% UCAS tariff. 2024 interview cut-off: 2,620.

✅ Queen’s University Belfast – UCAT is scored out of 6 and combined with GCSE scores.

✅ Sheffield University – Ranks UCAT for interviews. 2023 interview threshold: 2,850, cut-off: 2,440.

✅ Southampton University – Ranked by UCAT for Selection Day. Reviewed again post-selection for final offers.

✅ St Andrews University – Ranks applicants by UCAT. The lowest score for interview invitees is typically around 2,400.

✅ St George’s University of London – Minimum 500 in each UCAT section. 2023 cut-off: 2,630.

✅ Sunderland University – Must be in the top 8 deciles, SJT Band 3 or better. 2024 cut-off: 2,300.

✅ Surrey University – UCAT used in Stage 2 of selection for interview shortlisting.

✅ UCL – Now requires UCAT after BMAT discontinuation.

✅ Warwick University – Verbal Reasoning must be at least the UCAT mean score. 2023 cut-off: 2,580.

✅ Worcester University – No set UCAT cut-off, but most shortlisted applicants scored above 2,500.